Skirt for riding-habits



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I A. S. GRBENLEAF.

SKIRT FOR RIDING HABITS.

(No Model.)

No. 568,943. Patented Oct 6, 1896.

MZIZMAM M f O-LFYHD. WASHINGTON a c 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 6, 1-896.

3 sheets Sheet 3.

A. s. GREENLEAF. SKIRT FOR. RIDING HABITS.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.-\GNES STAINES GREENLEAF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SKIRT FOR RIDING-HABITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,943, dated October 6, 1896.

Application filed July 1, 1896.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AGNES STAINES GREEN- LEAF, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts for Ridin g-llabits; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to skirts of ridinghabits for women, and, while adapted equally for use upon the conventional sidesaddle for horseback-riding, is adapted for use upon bicycles, as well as for walking and house skirts.

It is acknowledged that the most picturesque and generally desirable skirt for use upon a bicycle is what is known as an ordinary round skirt, but various objections attend the use of the same, and therefore bloomers and what are known as divided skirts have come somewhat into use. One of the principal objections to the ordinary round skirt lies in the fact that the rider must gather and raise the same at the back in order to properly sit upon the bicycle, and this leaves an unusual fullness toward the front and either on one side or the other, which is easily caught by the wind, and, thus even in a light wind, the edge of the skirt is being constantly raised, so as to expose to View unnecessarily the limbs of the rider, while in a very strong or head wind the latter gets under the skirt, fills it, and extends it balloon fashion, thus making a very unsightly appearance and also causing great inconvenience to the rider.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce a garmenthaving every appearance, from the front and side, at least, of the ordinary round skirt, and one which shall be so arranged as to obviate the objections above referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skirt which may be sufficiently short in length to enable its convenient use upon a bicycle or upon horseback, and at the same time so fashioned that it may be used as an ordinary walking-skirt without the passer-by suspecting that it has a special configuration Serial No. 597,706. No modelfl or fashion or that it has been specially made as a riding-habit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment whereby the limbs of the wearer thereof shall be absolutely concealed from view from the rear when the wearer is riding a bicycle.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the subjoined specification, and will be more fully stated in the claims appended to the latter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents in side View a habit embodying my invention, the wearer shown as riding a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, a portion of the garment being cut away in front. Fig. 3 is arear view of the same. Fig. 4: is a rear elevation of the outer skirt or member of the garment. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the inner skirt or member of the garment. Fig. (i is a side view of the latter. Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view of the waistband, showing the manner of attaching the outer and the inner members thereto.

My improved riding-skirt comprises two skirts, lettered, respectively, A and B, the former constituting the outer skirt or memher, as shown in Fig. 4, and the latter the inner member or under skirt, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These two skirts are preferably joined togetherat the top and united at a common waistband C in the usual manner; but I desire it to be understood that each skirt A and B may be provided with a separate waistband, as a b, if desired. It is preferable that the major portion of the skirts A and B be made of the same material, but that is not essential, and manifestly the skirts may be not only of different material, but of different colors.

The outer skirt A is made in the usual manner, with side or pocket openings a, which may be united by buttons or otherwise, as shown in (F. The special feature of the skirt A lies in the fact that at the rear thereof a breadth or gore is omitted, so that the rear edges 0- a stand apart from the lower margin or hem a of the skirt to the waistband a thereof. Extending over the hips and prefcrably from the side or pocket openings to to the lower hem a is a stiffening arrangement, (indicated by the dotted line at (L5,) which stiffening may be featherbone or any other suitable material. It maybe concealed from View or it may be placed upon the outside of the skirt and covered with suitable trimming, such as leather or the like, as an ornament or trimming to the skirt. If the material out of which the skirt is made is of heavy goods, the ordinary hem a will be sufficient to weight the bottom of the skirt; but in some cases it may be desirable to place auxiliary weights in the hem a such as shot or the like, and for this purpose I have indicated such weights in the drawings in dotted lines at a a.

The inner skirt B is made with one or more side openings 1), as desired, and it may be closed in the usual manner by hooks or buttons b The rear of the skirt is preferably made somewhat full, with a boX-plait b or not, as desired. The front of the skirt is separated from the bottom hem or fold to the waistband upon the lines indicated at b, and the upper part of the space between said separated portions is filled by a goreD, of cambric or other suitable material for lining, preferably of lighter weight than that of the material out of which the skirt B is made. The upper gore D is joined at its two long sides to the upper portions of the edges b by suitable stitches b and at its upper end suitablyjoined to the waistband b. The lower portion or margin cl of the gore D is suitably fashioned so as to present narrow and triangular-shaped lower extensions cl. The precise shape or fashioning of the margin d will necessarily be somewhat regulated by individual measureinents.

In Fig. 2 the front of the outer skirt is shown as broken away in order to more clearly reveal the operative position of the under skirt B. It will be observed that the margin (Z of the gore D is so fashioned in this instance as to come just above the knees of the wearer, and. thus the skirt B is cut away in such manner as to provide perfect freedom of movement for the limbs of the wearer. hen one knee is raised in the act of pedaling the bicycle, (see more particularly Fig. 1,) the margin d joins the lower portion of the margin b in a regular graceful curve, as indicated by the dotted lines (1 in Fig. 1; In this position the front of the outer skirt A hangs gracefully from the raised knee, and the lower margin or fold a of said outer skirt is free and clear from the lower front margin of the under skirt B. It will thus be obvious that the under skirt affords perfect freedom of movement for the rider, while the outer skirt A completely conceals from view the limbs and their movements.

In mounting a bicycle the wearer will of course lift one of the rear edges a of the outer skirt sufficiently to enable her to sit upon the bicycle-saddle fairly upon the under skirt or member 13, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the rearlower edges of the outer skirt A hang gracefully on either side of the rear wheel, and have a gentle and graceful wave movement as the wearer proceeds on her ride. At no time, however, are these rear edges moved outwardly from the wheel anyconsiderable distance. Nevertheless no outward movement of said rear edgesis possible to any distance or degree which could reveal the limbs of the wearer, inasmuch as the latter are completely protected from view by the full rear portion of the under skirt B.

In practical tests of this garment it has been found to be most highly successful for the accomplishment of the purposes in View, and has been found to be admirably adapted for use upon an ordinary sidesaddle.

I am not undertaking to illustrate in the drawings the multitude of modifications in patterns or styles of garments which may be produced in carrying out my invention, the essential feature being the combining of the two skirts having an under skirt partially open in front, where said opening is covered by the outer skirt, and having the outer skirt open at the rear or back, through which the full portion of the under skirt may project, all as stated in the appended claims. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the precise details as to pattern, construction, or ornamentation. 1 may state, however, that when using the skirt it is sometimes found desirable to secure the two members together elsewhere than at the waistband, and this may be accomplished by providing any ordinary form of invisible but-ton or hook and eye. I would recommend that only two such fastenings be used, one on each side, and positioned at about the point indicated by the buttonholefin Fig. 1.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a garment comprising two skirts joined at the waist, the outer skirt being open at the back from the lower hem substantially to the waistband and the under skirt having an opening in front extending upwardly from the lower hem a desired distance, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a garm ent comprising two skirts united to a single waistband, the outer skirt being open at the back from the lower hem substantially to the waistband and the under skirt being open in front from the lower hem upwardly a desired distance, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a riding-habit comprising a double skirt, the outer skirt being open at the back from the lower hem substantially to the waist to expose the under skirt through said opening only, and the under skirt being open in front from the lower hem upwardly to a desired extent, the open portion of the under skirt being covered by the front of the outer skirt, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a garment comprising two skirts joined at the waist, the outer skirt being open at the back from the lower seam substantially to the waist, the under skirt being open at the front from the lower hem to the waist, and a gore or inserted piece of flexible material secured in the upper portion of the opening in the under-skirt front, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a skirt for riding-habits comprising two skirt members joined at the waist, the outer skirt provided with one or more side openings extending from the waistband downwardly a short distance, an opening at the back of said outer skirt extending from the lower hem to or substantially to the waistband, and a suitable stiffening on each side of the outer skirt extending from the lower hem upwardly a desired distance, the under skirt having an opening in front extending from the lower hem to or near the waistband and a gore or inserted piece, as D, filling the upper portion of said opening and sewed to the edges there of along its two long sides, the lower margin d, of said gore being shaped substantially as described.

6. A skirt for riding-habits comprising two skirts joined at the waist, the outer skirt being provided with one or more side openings extending from the waistband downwardly a short distance and having an opening at the back extending from the lower hem to or sub stantiall y to the waistband, a featherbone stiffening on each side of the outer skirt extending from the lower hem upwardly a desired distance, the under skirt having an opening in its front extending from the lower hem to the waistband, a gore or inserted piece, filling the upper portion of said opening and sewed to the edges thereof along its two long edges, the lower margin d, of said inserted piece being shaped as described, and suitable weights secured to the lower hem of the outer skirt at desired points, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of June, A. D. 1896.

AGNES STAINES GREENLEAF.

Tiitnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, WILLIAM L. HALL. 

